In October 2025, National Police officers in Madrid arrested a 51-year-old man suspected of carrying out a string of hotel thefts in the capital and on the Balearic Islands. The perpetrator, a Serbian national living in one of the towns in the province of Toledo, used an unusual scheme: he would observe guests checking in, memorize their names and room numbers, and then, posing as a guest, request a new key card, claiming he had lost or damaged the previous one.
After gaining access to other people’s rooms, the man would steal money, valuables, and documents. He acted with particular caution, choosing times when most guests were out to avoid detection. Over several months, he managed to carry out at least 15 thefts, with the value of the stolen property exceeding 100,000 euros.
Investigation and arrest
The investigation began back in spring, when the first victims reported the thefts to police. It quickly became clear that the criminal was using the same method in different districts of Madrid and on the Balearic Islands. In August, similar incidents were recorded in Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca. In total, he managed to rob eight hotels in Ibiza, four in Palma, as well as carry out a theft in Bilbao, where he was also wanted for a violent assault.
To move between hotels on the islands, the suspect rented a motorcycle, allowing him to quickly change locations and evade pursuit. In some cases, he not only stole cash and valuables but also used stolen bank cards to make purchases, which added about another thousand euros to the total damage.
Arrest details
After yet another complaint from a guest at a hotel in the Chamartín district, police organized a swift operation. Within a few hours, the suspect was found in Arganzuela with belongings taken from the latest victims. During a search, police discovered documents and valuables stolen that same night.
The investigation revealed that the man was already known to police: just two days before his arrest, he had been detained for a similar offense in Chamberí, and earlier in the spring he had been identified as a participant in a theft in the same area. Ultimately, he was charged with fifteen counts of burglary and document forgery. The court ordered him to remain in custody pending trial.
Scale of losses and methods
Over several months, the perpetrator made more than 100,000 euros. In just two days on Ibiza alone, he stole 38,000 euros in cash and luxury items, and another 60,000 euros from other hotels on the Balearic Islands. His favorite method was to convince hotel staff that he was a genuine guest and request access to rooms and safes, usually by claiming to have forgotten the password or that his card wasn’t working.
The case has drawn widespread attention among hotel owners and tourists, as the perpetrator acted with confidence and bypassed security systems with relative ease. Police are now investigating his possible involvement in other similar incidents in various regions of the country.
